Storage of liquids



TQM-2,525

Fl LED APR. 12. 1920,

Patented dan. lfd, i923.. l

UNTTTTT sTaTTs PATENT oTTTcT.

FK A. HOWARD, OF WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSTGNOR, BY TEJESNE ASSTGN- MENTS, TO STANDARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, A CORPQZLATTON 0F DELAWARE.

STORAGE OF LIQUJIDS.

Application led April 12," 1920. Serial No. 373,994.

To all whomz't may concer/n Be it known that l, FRANK A. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Westfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful mprovement in the Storage of Liquids, of which the following is a specilication. Y

The present invention relates to the storage of liquids, and more particularly to the storage of volatile or inflammable liquids, in closed tanks completely filled with liquid. lt will be clearly understood from the following specificatio-n, as illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional view through a tank suitable for use in connection with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional detail view of an element in the tank.

lfn the drawings the numeral 5 indicates a storage tank intended to be filled with a volatile or inflammable liquid, such as gasoline. rlhe tank is provided with the usual swing pipe 6 for the inlet and removal of the gasoline, and with a. vent pipe 7 provided near the top of the tank with a valve 8. A vertical stand pipe 9 is mounted within the tank, preferably on an expanded base 10, and its interior communicates with the tank nearthe bottom ot the latter, as thru openings 11 in the base 10. rlhe top of thefstandpipe 9 extends' above the top of the tank 5 and may be closed by a cap 12. Means are provided for introducing liquid into the stand pipe 9, for example, valved pipe 13. It desired, means may likewise be provided above the top of the tank 5 for discharge or overflow of liquid, as through valved pipe 14E. A waste or discharge pipe 15 extends vertically into the stand pipe 9, and to the top of this is attached an externally threaded brass ring 16. A pipe section 17, closed at the top, screws over the ring and may be vertically adjusted, for example, by means of the stem or shaft18,splined in the h'ub of hand wheel 19, the construction of which is not shown in detail, being identical with that of the ordinary rising-stem gate-valve. rThe pipe section is provided with horizontal slots or openings 21, through which liquid may pass from the stand pipe 9 into waste pipe 15.

lin carrying out the present invention the tank 5 is, it is assumed, filled with the stored liquid, for example, gasoline, up to the usual limit. i. e. leaving enough space for the eX- pansion 'of the liquid under the contemplated maximum increase of the temperature. A heavier, immiscible liquid, such as water, is then caused to enter the stand pipe 9, forming a layer on the bottom of the tank and Jr'orcing the gasoline up to the .top of the tank, the valve 8 on the vent pipe being open during the, filling process. The level of the water is indicated by the numeral 2() on the drawing. It is intended that the pressure which the gasoline exerts upon the roof or top of the tank shall not exceed a maximum, and this may be effected by adjusting the level oi' the column ot'water or liquid in the stand pipe 9 to counterb'alance the gasoline. rlFhe liquid in the stand pipe overflows through openings 21 into waste pipe 15, and the height of the column of liquid may be raised or lowered by raising or lowering the pipe or cap section 17. lin order that contraction ot the stored liquid for example,`with changes in temperature, may be compensated for, water will be constantly supplied through the pipe 13, the rate of supply of water to the stand pipe being greater than the rate of volumetric contraction` ot' the liquid in the tank, and the excess discharging through'the overfiow, thru which also discharges any liq-uld expelled by expansion of the contents of the tank. The column of water in the stand pipe maybe regarded as functioning to produce a substantially constant pressure against the roof" of the tank, which pressure would cause the gasoline to reach a level slightly above the top of the tank it the liquid were Jr'ree. This level will show in the vent pipe 7 if the latter be kept open. The roof supports 23 serve also to tie the roof against upward pressure from the contents of the tank.

A suitable gauge 22 may be provided indicating the level ot' gasoline in the tank,Y this gauge being shown as an annulus oi' specific gravity intermediate between that of water and of gasoline. 'lo make the necessary external connections tof this gadge as well as for the swing pipe 6 tubes are eX- tended downward through the root' of the tank, these -tubes housing the connecting cables. ln this manner the cables may be run through the root' without danger o? opened.

leakage, and, furthermore, since the tubes extend nearly to the bottom of the tank they are filled with water and not gasoline.

In case it is-desired to counterbalance the gasoline or liquid in the tank with the same liquid instead of' with water, the cap secton 17 may be screwed down until the slots 21 are closed, or the waste line 15 may be closed by a valve conveniently located (not shown) and the overflow pipe 14 maybe This pipe is placed at a point above the level of the roof of the tank, the hydrostatic pressure upon the roof of the tank being measured by the difference between the overflow level and roof of the tank. Gasoline may then be supplied thru pipe 13 at a rate greater than the rate of volumetric contraction of the liquid in the tank with decreases in temperature, the excess passing out through the overflow 14. This excesswill be collected, and if desired, returned through the pipe 13, a circulating system being employed to take care of a number of tanks. tion there may be liquid communication thru the wall of stand-pipe 9 at any point within the tank, or that portion within the tank may be entirely eliminated, if desired.

It is apparent that, in accordance with the present invention the pressure exerted by the contentsof the tank upon its roof may be readily controlled. In the storage of liquids, and particularly of volatile or inflammable liquids it is desirable -that the tanks be completely filled and that vapor spaces in the tank be avoided. It is hence important that the hydrostatic pressure on the liquid be always suflicient to keep the tank entirely full. By the present invention this object is attained and at the same time the tank may be protected against excessive pressure dangerous to the structure of the tank itself.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is Y 1. The method of maintaining a constant hydrostatic head of a stored liquid subjected to changes of temperature which consists in balancing it against a column of liquid, constantly supplying liquid to the column at a rate greater than the rate of volumetric contraction of the contents with changes of temperature Aand wasting the excess liquid as well as the expelled liquid through a constant level overflow. l

2. The method of protecting a completely filled storage tank against excessive pressures due to the expansion and contraction of its contents, which consists in constantly supplying liquid to the interior of the tank at a rate greater than the rate of volumetric contraction of the contents with changes in temperature and wasting the excess liquid as Well as the expelled liquid thru a constant level overflow.

In this mode of opera- 3. rl`he method of protecting a completely filled storage tank against excessive pressures due to the expansion and contraction of' its contents, which consists in balancing the contents against a column of liquid, constantly supplying liquid to said column at a rate greater than the rate of volumetric contraction of the contents with changes in temperature and wasting the excess liquid as well as the expelled liquid through anconstant level overflow.

1l. The method of protecting a completely filled storage tank against excessive pressures due tothe expansion and contraction of its contents, which consists in maintaining a column of` liquid iin-miscible with and heavier than the stored liquid in hydraulic communication with the lower portion of the tank, constantly supplying liquid to Said column at a rate greater than the rate of of volumetric contraction of the contents' with changes in temperature and wasting the excess liquid as well as the expelled liquid thru a constant level overflow.

5. The method of protecting a completely filled gasoline storage tank against excessive internal pressures which consists in maintaining a column of water in hydraulic communication with the lower portion of the tank, constantly supplying water to said columns at a rate greater than the rate of volumetric contraction of thegasoline in the tank with changes in temperature and wasting the excess of water as well as eixpelled water thru a. constant level overk6. The combination with a closed storage tank, of' a stand pipe within the tank and communicating with the latter at or near the bottom, means for introducing liquid into the standpipe at a rate in excess of the rate of' volumetric contraction of the stored liquid, a Waste pipe within the stand pipe, a vertically movable cap for said waste pipe, said cap being provided with an opening for communica-tion of the interior of the'stand pipe with the waste pipe whereby liquid may be wasted from the latter.

7. The combination with a closed storage tank, of a stand pipe Within the tankand communicating with the latter at or near the bottom, means for introducing a liquid heavier than the stored liquid into-the stand pipe at a rate in excess of the rate of volumetric contraction of the stored liquid, a

waste pipe within the stand pipe, a verti-v 8. The combination with a closed storage 10 the vertical position of said overflow means.

Y 9. The combination with a closed storage tank, of a stand-pipe communicating with the tank at or near its bottom, means for introducingr the liquid into the stand-pipe, a waste-pipe within the stand-pipe, said waste-pipe being; provided with an opening for communication between the intcrior ot the Waste-pipe and the interior of thc stand-pipe, and means for varyingl the 'vertical position of the opening.

FRANK A.. HUVVRD. 

